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Craft beer industry news.

Sebago Brewing, Maine Beer Co. Plan Expansions

Sebago Brewing, Maine Beer Co. Plan Expansions

Two Maine-based craft breweries — Sebago Brewing and Maine Beer Company — are in the process of finalizing brewery expansions projects what would enable each company to significantly grow their operations in the greater Portland area. Sebago Brewing, based in Gorham, today announced plans to open a new $5 million destination brewery in 2017. Pending planning board approvals, the company could break ground as early as November, it said in a press release.

MillerCoors Expands Blue Moon ‘Something’s Brewing’ Campaign

Blue Moon launched a new advertising platform this year, entitled “Something’s Brewing.” The first ad featured founder and head brewmaster Keith Villa, whose imagination led him to create Blue Moon Belgian White, a Belgian Wit brewed with an artful twist. The campaign will also feature other creators who always add an inspired twist to their creations: Los Angeles chef Roy Choi of Kogi fame and indie-rock band Family of the Year. Ads featuring Choi began airing this week, with Family of the Year appearing in ads later in the summer.

Half Moon Bay Brewing Introduces Presidential-Themed IPAs

In an attempt to unify the two major U.S. political parties, the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, long known for its passion for politics, craft beer and sustainable coastal cuisine, has unveiled commemorative bottles of its popular IPA in honor of newly minted Republican party member and nominee Donald Trump and longtime Democratic nominee-in-waiting Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Presidential election. The red-labeled Trump IPA, featuring the businessman, former reality show host and University co-founder, will go head-to-head with the blue Clinton IPA, starring the former U.S. Senator, Secretary of State and “private emailer” in the Brewing Company’s third “Presidential Alection,” inviting visitors to put their internal divisions aside and come together and vote with their politics and palate for the good of the country.

Fort Collins Brewery to Release Oktoberfest on August 11

Last year, Fort Collins Brewery (FCB) took home a gold medal for Oktoberfest in the Dortmunder/German-Style Oktoberfest category at the Great American Beer Festival, a premier U.S. beer festival and competition that draws over 60,000 attendees. But a shiny 2015 GABF® gold medal was just the tip of the iceberg for the brewery. On August 11th Fort Collins Brewery (FCB) will proudly release the award-winning Oktoberfest for the 3rd year in a row. The release is particularly nostalgic given the brewery’s recent rebrand.

Diamond Knot Craft Brewing to Release Fog Bank Fall Ale

Fall may be right around the corner, but for the crew at Diamond Knot Craft Brewing, the leaves may as well start falling and the crisp autumn days begin. Fog Bank Fall Ale is set to release Aug. 1 to thirsty fans throughout the area.

Political Pundits Tucker Carlson and Bill Press to Speak at NBWA’s 79th Annual Convention

The National Beer Wholesalers Association’s (NBWA) 79th Annual Convention will take place September 25 – 28, 2016, at the Hyatt Regency Chicago in Chicago, Illinois. Political pundits Tucker Carlson and Bill Press will provide in-depth analysis of this election season during the general session on Tuesday, September 27, the morning after the first scheduled presidential debate.

Brewers of Pennsylvania Applauds State’s Malt Beverage Tax Credit

Pennsylvania Governor, Tom Wolf, recently signed a $1.3 billion revenue package just hours after the legislation became public and passed by the Pennsylvania House and Senate. Part of that package includes a Malt Beverage Tax Credit not to exceed $5 million annually. The Brewers of Pennsylvania (BOP), the state’s official brewing guild, fully supports this tax credit measure, and considers it a major victory for all craft breweries in the Commonwealth, particularly smaller breweries.

New Belgium Earns Platinum Certification For Zero Waste Initiatives

New Belgium Brewing has received the highest certification level possible from the U.S. Zero Waste Business Council (USZWBC) for its waste reduction efforts, gaining platinum recognition. The certification provides a third-party perspective on how effectively the brewery reduces, reuses, and recycles waste. Businesses with a 90 percent waste reduction rate can apply for the certification. New Belgium has exceeded this rate since it began tracking the data more than 10 years ago, and is currently diverting 99.9 percent year to date.

Avery Brewing Releases ‘Ale to the Chief’ Pale Ale

Originally brewed to celebrate Inauguration Day, January 20, 2009, Avery Brewing Company elected to give their beer Ale to the Chief a third term to commemorate the 2016 election. Rather than categorizing the beer as Imperial, Avery created a new beer style to honor our country’s democracy, calling the beer a Presidential Pale Ale. A brew worthy of the Oval Office!

The Grand Canyon Brewing Company Expands with New Brewhouse & Tap Room

The Grand Canyon Brewing Company is expanding with the addition of a brand new brewhouse and tap room located just two miles down Route 66 from their current location in Williams, AZ. The tap room grand opening is scheduled for Thursday, July 28, 2016. The brewhouse will begin production in January 2017.

Brewery Ommegang to Release Latest Game of Thrones Beer in October

After an exciting season that saw the Starks reclaim the North and Cersei take the Iron Throne as the first queen of Westeros, Brewery Ommegang and HBO Global Licensing are introducing a new beer and bringing back a previous brew to steady the nerves of fans as they anxiously endure the show’s off-season break.

Dogfish Head Brewery Releases SeaQuench Ale

To commemorate — and disintegrate — the 500th anniversary of the Reinheitsgebot, Dogfish Head Brewery is proud to release SeaQuench Ale, a session sour quencher made with lime peel, lime juice, black lime & sea salt. Clocking in at 4.9% ABV and 10 IBUs, SeaQuench Ale is a citrusy-tart union of three German styles of beer blissfully brewed into one highly quenchable ale. The beer will begin shipping nationwide on August 1st.